Two Bay Area cites consider legal action amid ongoing trash standoff
City leaders in Fairfield and Suisun City are pursuing all their legal options in handling the ongoing trash collection standoff between Republic Services and Teamsters garbage collectors.
RELATED: Republic Services trash pickup resumes in West Contra Costa County, other pockets of Bay Area
Fairfield Mayor Catherine “Cat” Moy announced on Facebook late Wednesday that the city has “sent a letter telling Republic that it is in violation” of their contract which, she said, “opens the legal door for us to impose steep fines; to bring in another contractor; to work on our current contract to make favorable changes.”
She added that she continues to worth with City Manager David Gassaway and city attorneys on getting citizens “refunds for services we didn’t get.” She encouraged residents to call and leave a message with Republic Services that their pickup was missed, saying “this helps us with legal issues.”
Suisun City Manager Bret Prebula, meanwhile, told residents at Tuesday’s city council meeting that the city is “pushing every legal means possible when it comes to the contract and any breach provisions and any liquidated damages provisions around that.”
He reiterated the need for residents to use drop off points for trash only and said Solano County officials had contacted the city to say that if garbage is left on the ground the city could face “public health fines.”
In the meantime Republic Services continues to tell residents to place their bins curbside as normal and has drop-off Dumpsters at multiple locations in Fairfield and Suisun City. It has brought in other non-union employee drivers to help with collection. On Thursday, the company focused on continuing to complete residential routes in its Tuesday service area, the Central and Cordelia Business area, and the public pickup sites.
Teamsters with Republic Services in Fairfield are not on strike themselves but are honoring an expanded picket line as Teamsters strike for better wages and benefits in multiple communities across the country.
At the Suisun City Council meeting, Mayor Alma Hernandez said a Teamster had crossed the picket line Wednesday and “we hope some others might cross or just return tomorrow.” Union officials confirmed the single crossover but said the picket remains in effect as of Thursday.
Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien has made it clear that strikes will continue until Republic Services offers “good wages, decent benefits” and “fair” contracts.
“The American public needs to understand that Republic Services and its overpaid, corrupt executives own this strike,” O’Brien said in a press release. “Their greed is forcing trash collectors and waste haulers across the country out into the street. We don’t want this garbage piling up. We want to return to work. But we refuse to be exploited.”
More than 2,000 Republic Teamsters are either on strike or honoring picket lines across the country.